Bharat Ratna C.N.R. Rao on Sunday categorically said it was time to usher in science-based engineering education with a focus on fundamentals and explained how there was no distinction between science and engineering.
He was addressing the 29 Indian Engineering Congress organised by the Institution of Engineers (India); he did not mince words, pointing out that without improving the engineering education system, India could not produce good engineers.
The four-day Congress came to a close here on Sunday with engineers resolving to channelise efforts to take to innovation in a big way and encourage young talent. Also, it was resolved that engineers should focus on problems faced in the education sector. A think tank like the National Design and Research Forum would monitor innovations and inventions of young engineering talent.
Briefing presspersons later, Chairman of Institution’s National Design and Research Forum, B.V.A. Rao said the Forum was constantly striving to improve product design. He said Dr. C.N.R. Rao had said getting domain knowledge in the colleges and adding skills in the laboratories was fine, but ethics and behavioural improvement was required too.
Summing up the activities at the Congress, outgoing IEI president Ashok Kumar Basa said 37 per cent of the Gross Domestic Product of USA came from innovative practices. Also, the success story of Korea, that was much poorer than India in 1961 and how it rose like a phoenix with innovation as the growth engine was deliberated upon.
Incoming IEI president L.V. Muralikrishna Reddy said the IEI, with an estimated membership of 10 lakh, would address problems faced by young engineers and fill up gaps in engineering education. Pointing out that innovation, research and development needed direction, he nevertheless said IEI was actively partnering with the Defence Research and Development Organisation on National programme on Micro Air Vehicles.
